Purples rally for 5-4 home win against Spartans

Published 10:01 am Wednesday, April 23, 2025

By Jeff Nations

The District 14 baseball race picked up the pace a bit more Tuesday.

A day after dropping the series opener to rival South Warren, Bowling Green returned the favor with a 5-4 comeback win at Harold J. Stahl Field. What already looked to be a three-team race for the district crown with Greenwood also a very real threat is shaping up to be just that.

Bowling Green (11-7 overall, 1-1 District 14) backed a gritty outing from senior starting pitcher Eli Kries with flawless defense and enough offense to even its record in district play a day after falling 8-5 at South Warren.

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The Purples twice rallied from two-run deficits to claim the win against South Warren (15-3, 1-1) and remain a factor in the district race.

“That’s one of the things I told the guys today – we know how to battle,” Bowling Green coach Isenberg said.

The Spartans struck early with two runs in the top of the first inning. Brandon Perkins led off with a single and stole second, then one out later Griffin Rardin was hit by a pitch to put two runners on Camden Page followed by roping a double to drive in both runners.

The Purples answered in the bottom of the frame, helped along by two errors by South Warren – the Spartans had an uncharacteristic three miscues in the game. Evan Schallert led off by reaching on an error, Drew Isenberg followed with a single and then Landon Gilbert beat out a sacrifice bunt for another single. Greyson Newman followed with a deep fly ball to center to drive in a run, then an errant pickoff try allowed a second run to score and knot the score at 2.

Despite losing Western Kentucky signee Ethan Reynolds to a broken hand earlier this season, the Spartans have continued to produce at the plate and that continued in the second inning. Tucker Parks, South’s starting catcher and No. 9 hitter, started a two-out rally with a single. Perkins followed with an RBI double, then scored on Ty Croghan’s run-scoring single as the Spartans moved ahead 4-2.

The Purples got a run back in the bottom of the third when Harrison Yates picked up an RBI groundout.

Bowling Green loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth, and Gilbert brought home the tying run with an RBI single to right field. It was the last of a three-hit day for the Purples’ junior third baseman.

“When the bases are loaded, it’s always nice when you come through for the team, get a couple runs and put you back in the game,” Gilbert said.

Newman followed Gilbert with an RBI groundout to five the Purples their first lead of the night at 5-4.

South Warren went quiet at the plate after that promising start, managing just two hits after the second against Bowling Green starting pitcher Eli Kries. The senior right-hander was helped along by inning-ending double plays in the fifth and sixth innings before making way for Logan Johnson to close out the win with a scoreless seventh inning.

Kries, who had only pitched seven innings this season as he’s eased back into action after battling a shoulder injury last year, delivered six solid innings to earn the win. He allowed four runs off seven hits and a pair of walks while striking out two batters.

“I really was surprised that I was able to go that long,” Kries said. “I mean, I’ve only pitched two or three games before this and (went) two to three innings with that, but I felt good throughout the entire game so I just kept going. It’s a big win for us and it was something worth fighting for.”

Isenberg said Kries carried on from his last start against Glasgow, when he pitched four scoreless innings in BG’s win on April 15.

“He had an absolute masterpiece last week at Glasgow,” Isenberg said. “I mean, it was insane – it was like 90% first-pitch strikes, 80% strikes in his outing. He fills it up, he’s got movement. He’s just made for pitching.”

Schallert added a three-hit day for the Purples, who tallied nine hits in the win.

Perkins and Page had two hits each for the Spartans.

“With the three of us – Greenwood, South and us – we’re all pretty even,” Isenberg said. “I would say one-run games, pretty much. We all have our own strengths.”

South Warren is back in action Thursday at Logan County, while Bowling Green will host Franklin-Simpson on Friday.

SWHS 220 000 0 – 4 7 3

BGHS 201 200 x – 5 9 0

WP: Kries. LP: Allen. SV: Johnson.

Sports Editor, Bowling Green Daily News

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